IT’S ENTER BLOOD-VAN for Irish Metallica fans as they attend clinics around the country to give donate ahead of the band’s Irish gigs this weekend. 

The metal group are playing two nights at the Aviva Stadium on their M72 world tour and have been encouraging fans to donate blood at every stop through their All Within My Hands foundation.

These fans are given a special edition t-shirt with the band’s name and logo that can’t be bought on their online shop. 

Ahead of their first Dublin show this Friday, The Journal visited Irish Blood Transfusion Service’s (IBTS) on D’Olier Street clinic. 

It’s Enter Blood-Van for Metallica fans as they attend clinics around the country to give donate ahead of the band's Irish gigs this weekend. https://t.co/tFiFCbZzVd pic.twitter.com/HN8IDa5d8I

— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) June 17, 2026

Mirenda O’Donovan, head of corporate affairs for the IBTS, said the organisation reached out to the band when they became aware of their other blood drives. 

It partnered with the Northern Irish Blood Transfusion Service to promote it on both sides of the border, and she said the public reaction has been “very positive”.

“We’ve had people coming in, for the first time, who are Metallica fans, also people who are already donors, but hadn’t been for a while.”

Ailbhe, a nurse at the clinic and an avid fan of the band, said she had no idea the drive was happening until she arrived to work to find the t-shirts on Tuesday.

“When we came in yesterday morning, and there were boxes of T-shirts, and we were like; ‘what’s going on?’” 

She said she found the whole campaign “really heartwarming” and was even inspired donate blood after her shift.

“The second I saw them, I did just bang on the T-shirt, and was like; ‘can you book me in for when I’m finished my shift?’ And me and one of the other girls donated.”

On Tuesday, Ailbhe said she had six people come in wearing Metallica t-shirts because they saw the drive advertised by the band online which was “really cool”. 

“I just think it’s really cool getting people that might not have even thought about donating, and it’s a different way to get people in.”

We also spoke some of the people giving blood in the clinic on Wednesday.

One fan hadn’t heard about the drive but was excited to find the t-shirts when he walked in: “My tenth Christmas, I got a big red stereo set, and Metallica’s Fuel was my first album.”

The Metallica and giveblood.ie drive runs till 22 June.